Why 2016 Is Going to Be Another Great Year for MacBook Fans
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In another report Sunday from KGI Securities’ Analyst, Ming Chi Kuo, Apple’s renowned MacBook lineup was reported to experience continued growth in 2016 — a feat facilitated by the progressive adoption of Cupertino’s notebook computer in the enterprise market, in addition to hardware refreshes within the first-half of the year.
Kuo speculates that the MacBook lineup could be one of Apple’s biggest performers this year, at least, insofar as sales volume is concerned. He points to the MacBook’s consistent growth over the years, and continued adoption by businesses and the enterprise/education sectors, which will persist, if not strengthen, as we progress into the calendar year 2016. He also predicts that the MacBook lineup will see a refresh before the month of June.
“Increased demand for Apple notebooks will also benefit the company’s supplies SZS and Casetek,” Kuo also mentioned in a note to investors on Sunday.
Although very little, at this point, is known about the specific hardware upgrades Apple’s MacBook refresh will entail, the company is supposedly waiting on Intel’s next-generation “Skylake” processors to add to the mix.
“Skylake” is Intel’s follow-up to its Broadwell line of processors, which are said to offer performance improvements that we’d typically expect to see, year-over-year — chipsets boosting CPU speeds of about 10 to 20 percent more than their predecessors, with integrated graphics chips featuring roughly 16 to 41 percent improvement, as well.
Skylake will also carry on the trend toward more efficient power consumption, thanks in part to its smaller, 14-nanometer architecture. In practice, laptop and notebook computers featuring Skylake processors could provide as much as 30 percent longer battery life than Broadwell.
Sunday’s note to investors stopped short of offering any additional details on what Apple’s MacBook refresh may or may not entail, however, at least from a hardware standpoint; and, additionally, Kuo offered no information on what models, specifically, would be refreshed. However, the well-connected and historically accurate Kuo did suggest, with assurance, that the MacBook line would see a refresh within the first-half of the year — to whatever extent.
One report, published last November, speculated that Apple may unveil a substantially revamped MacBook Air line-up at the company’s WWDC 2016 in June, including the possibility of an all-new 15-inch model to replace the 11-inch option.
We’ll keep you posted on any new developments in the MacBook rumor mill, if and when they become available; however, given the 1H 2016 refresh timeframe, we shouldn’t be waiting long to find out exactly what Apple has in store for us this year!
Learn More: MacBook Look-Alikes Abundant at This Year’s CES
So what do you think? Are you in the market for a new Macbook computer?
Would you consider buying a 15-inch MacBook Air if the option became available?